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Tyngsboro man charged with illegal teen tattooing

By Lisa Redmond, lredmond@lowellsun.com

Posted:
02/11/2014 02:32:48 PM EST

TYNGSBORO -- A 19-year-old Tyngsboro man who was possibly the first man in the town's recent history to be accused of illegally tattooing a 16-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to violations of a municipal ordinance and must pay a $200 fine.

In Lowell District Court on Tuesday, Jacob Rood, of 24 Audrey Ave., pleaded guilty to two counts of municipal bylaw violation -- specifically, with violating the town's health regulations. He was fined $100 per count. A charge of assault with a dangerous weapon (a needle) was dismissed prior to arraignment.

Tyngsboro Police Chief Richard Howe said the parents of the 16-year-old boy contacted police last October when their son came home with a tattoo of a skull on his chest. The parents told police that they were going to bring their son to the doctor for blood work to ensure he hadn't contracted any disease in the tattooing process.

Due to health concerns, Howe said tattoo artists need a permit from the Board of Health to tattoo anyone, and Rood did not have a permit. Regardless, the bylaw regulations for body art establishments state, "No tattooing or body piercing shall be performed on a person under the age of 18."

"I've never seen this before," Howe said in an interview with The Sun last October.

Howe said permits are required so the Board of Health can ensure tattoo artists use proper procedures to sterilize needles and maintain a healthy environment.